Wetlands and

Agriculture in

Rwanda

Current status of Rwanda’s wetlands

Wetlands under full protection (38): 56,120 ha ;

Conditional use (after EIA & Env mgt Plan (475): 206,732 ha;

Unconditional use (community /HIMO approach-347):15,689 ha;

Total : 278,541 ha (10.6 % of total country area)

• Marshland potential: 219,791 ha (Rwanda’s Irrigation Master Plan, 2010)

• Wetlands are state-owned lands…No individual appropriation, but can be leased for 20-49-99 years under vigilant monitoring.

• No building or housing projects on wetlands

• Wetland ownership (STATE) # wetland use (INDIVIDUALS)

• Need for complying with Land law and Environment reg.

Current policies/tools used for

irrigation development on wetlands

• Vision 2020

• Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategies (EDPRS)

• National Agricultural Policy (NAP)

• Strategic Plan for the Transformation of Agriculture – Phase III (PSTA-III)

• Marshland Master Plan, 2004

• Irrigation Master Plan, 2010

• National Rice Development Strategy(2011-2018)

• Government Program (2011-20 17)

Guidelines for wetlands

development Hydrology Biodiversity Presence

/Peat

Tourbe

Nearness/ a

National Park

Rapid

Evaluation

H0 B0 T0 P0

No limiting

factor

H1 Rugezi

B1 Akanyaru

T1 Rugezi

P1 Streams

towards ANP

Wetland is

critical for this

criteria

T2 Kamiranzovu

Critical

Légende :

Le chiffre zéro signifie que le marais n’est pas critique pour le critère,

le chiffre 1 désigne que le marais est critique pour le critère.

Pour la présence de tourbe :

T1 veut dire tourbe évoluée

T2 tourbe peu évoluée.

Setting up irrigation-drainage

infrastructures

Irrigation infrastructure : Water control in wet seasons (minimize flooding risks) ;

in dry season (securing crops against drought).

Three (3 types of scheme layout) :

1.Simple intake /diversion structure : perennial

stream…Local community /HIMO approach;

2.Medium-Low Cost design: GOR / NGOs staff

3.Heavy and costly design for large command

area: Donors (dams, dykes, big reservoirs

…studies & implementation)→Consultants

Integrated watershed management

• Erosion control above developed wetlands

• Soil fertility management of uplands

• Water conservation measures → steady flow

• Afforestation –rehabilitation of old woodlots

• Runoff control from national road network

and built-up areas

• Promoting off-farm activities to reduce

pressure

• Encourage professionalization of farmers

• Setting up marshland development

Committees

Mainstreaming environmental education in

Operation,Maintenance &

Management (OMM)

• The Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources has embarked in construction of irrigation schemes within Rwanda to avoid rainfall dependence

• The new management model is based on the establishment of “Water Users Organizations” (WUOs), sole entities to collect water fees.

• The Ministerial Order No 001/11.30 of 23/11/2011 makes the establishment of Irrigation Water Users Associations in all irrigation schemes within Rwanda. Present day, 76 WUOs are in place.

• Cooperative →Production & Marketing activities

• WUO →Operation & Maintenance of ID network

• Service provider: where there are heavy infrastructures

WUO -OMM Model

Farmers

1- Subsidy to operator 2-OMM contract

1- National level: Supervision, legal and regulatory

2- District level: Overseeing activity of WUAs

3- Farm/ Scheme level: RAB Extension services

Government MINAGRI

Service provider/Operator

Water Users Organization Cooperative/Company of farmers

IWUO….

Irrigated area....

IWUO2

Irrigated area 2

IWUO1

Irrigated area 1

District Irrigation Technical Unit (District engineers, RAB, TF

I&M

District Irrigation Steering

Committee

RAB Extension services

1-Water service contract 2- Water fees 3- Environmental issues

Unit of operator/Service provider

Rice development in wetlands • Rice is the main staple grown on developed wetlands

• It is envisaged that the approaches will raise the

productivity level from 5.8 t/ha to 7.0 t/ ha and expand the

area under cultivation from 6,838 Ha to 28,500 by 2018

• In 2013, people engaged in rice cultivation were 70,353.

• In Rwanda, rice farmers belong to a total of 100

cooperatives, distributed within 64 rice schemes country-

wide

• Each cooperative covers rice farmers in a watershed.

• Each WUO signs a Performance contract with the

Cooperative

• WUO and Cooperative are legally registered and

accountable before their General Assembly/District

/MINAGRI .

• And to RCA for the Coops and RGB for the

WUOs→Periodic M & E

• WUO has to apply for water permit from RNRA/IWRM→

Projections of rice demand for

Rwanda (RNDS, 2011)

Year Population

(‘000)1

Consumption per

capita (kg/year)

Predicted

Consumption

(Milled Rice, MT)

2008 9,908 6.1 60,825

2013 11,238 11.5 130,752

2018 12,568 15.6 204,110

Targets set under NRDS on area,

yield, and production Rain-fed lowland Irrigated Total

Area

(Ha)

Yield

(t/Ha)

Produc

tion

Area

(Ha)

Yield

(t/Ha)

Produc

tion

(MT/ha

)

Area

(Ha)

Yield

(t/Ha)

Produc

tion

(MT/ha

)

2008 - - - 7,000 5.5 66,000 7,000 5.5 66,000

2010 - - - 6,838 5.8 70,680 6,838 5.8 70,680

2013 - - - 13,500 6.0 141,75

0

13,500 6.0 141,75

0

2018 2,500 2.0 5,000 26,000 7.0 369,00

0

28,500 - 374,00

0

SWOT analysis of Rwanda’s rice sector.

STRENGTHS •Suitable Ecological Niches •High productivity (5.8 t/Ha) •Government’s commitment •Organization of farmers •Favorite Food Choice •Favorable policies •Rural and Family labor supply

OPPORTUNITIES • Vast areas of untouched marshlands •Special bowls for Premium rice •Profitability •Strong demand in local markets •Open regional markets •Off-shelf technologies •Regional and International Initiatives

WEAKNESSES

•Inadequate integration of Value Chain •Inadequate research and extension •Low private sector participation •Low mechanization •Small farm size •High post-harvest losses •Standards of small mills • Access to credit and market

THREATS •Demographic pressure •Soil fertility management •Climate Change •Access to water •Pressure from pests and diseases •Competition from imported rice •Raising Fuel prices (input costs) • Seasonal labor constraints

Sustainable agriculture in wetlands

• Improving productivity from current 5.5t/ha to 7t/ha

(seeds, fertilizers, diseases control, improving farm operations, water productivity)

• Extension of area from current 8,000 ha to 65,000 ha

• Development,/rehabilitation and maintenance of irrigation infrastructures by farmers through WUOs

• Development of post harvest handling and processing infrastructures to minimize post harvest losses and ensure high quality rice that can be competitive at regional level

• Continuous capacity building ; R&D- long grain breeds, update Policies and Strategies to meet farmers' needs, consumers 'demands , Gvt regulations on natural resources management , etc .

THANK YOU

THANK YOU